Hazelnuts are one of our favourite ingredients. Their intense nutty flavour combined with chocolate, honey, pears or cream make a perfect autumn dessert. Hazelnut cake is a traditional cake from Piedmont which is renowned for their hazelnuts many of which make their way into Ferrero Roche. This cake has only 3 ingredients but feel free…

Torta di nocciole (hazelnut cake) – Piemonte Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 35 mins Total time 50 mins It is difficult to believe that 3 ingredients can make such an amazing cake. Of course, as there are so few, the flavour of your hazelnuts will be the most important factor in…

Torta di grano saraceno / Buckweizentorte (buckwheat cake filled with lingonberry jam) – Trentino Alto-Adige Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 45 mins Total time 1 hour While buckwheat is tends to be associated with wheat, it is in fact not a wheat at all or even a grass. The seeds of…

Esse (lemon and vanilla shortbread biscuits) – Veneto Print Prep time 30 mins Cook time 20 mins Total time 50 mins These delicate, lemony biscuits are a hint that winter is over and Easter is on its way. They are deceptively robust so they actually are the perfect dipping biscuit to accompany tea,…

Pizza alla Nutella (Nutella pizza) Print Prep time 4 hours 40 mins Cook time 15 mins Total time 4 hours 55 mins This is the best way to use up any excess pizza dough. Melted, gooey Nutella on freshly baked bread topped with crunchy hazelnuts, what more could you want? Shaped into heart,…

Torta di pistacchi (pistachio cake) – Sicilia Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 45 mins This recipe produces a delicate pistachio-flavoured sponge cake sandwiching pistachio cream. This is the cake I eat when I want to remember the Sicilian sunshine on my face and the taste of the…

Necci (chestnut crepes) – Toscana Print Prep time 2 mins Cook time 15 mins Total time 17 mins Necci are a traditional sweet from the mountain communities in the provinces of Pistoia, Garfagnana and Lunigiana. They have a sweet earthiness about them which marry perfectly with the honey drizzled over them. Creamy ricotta…

Torta di mele e Nutella (apple Nutella cake) Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 1 hour Total time 1 hour 15 mins There is nothing more comforting than a slice of warm apple cake on a brisk day. What I like about this recipe is the very high ratio of apples to…